Machine for training hedges



(-No Model.)

B. J. DOWNING. MACHINE FOR TRAINING HEDGES. No. 247,024. Patented Sept.13,1881.

4 17 my m a UNITED STATES PATENT Orriea.

BURTON J. DOWNING, OF SEELY, KANSAS.

MACHINE FOR TRAINING HEDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,024, datedSeptember 13, 1881;

Application filed May 17, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BURTON J. DOWNING, of

Seely, in the county of Cowley and State ofpanying drawings, which forma part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a perspectivefront view of the machine. Fig.2 is a perspective rear view of the same;and Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing the under side of the adjustablehinged top door at the rear end of the machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

My invention has relation to machines for training living hedges; and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of parts of a machine bythe aid of which the hedge is compressed or compacted, so as'to adapt'itto be tied down with wire or cord suitable distances apart for thepurpose of regulating its size and density, substantially as hereinaftermore fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the top, and B the sides, of themachine or apparatus, which, it will be seen, are inclined or convergetoward the rear'end, so as to form a large mouth or opening, a, in frontand a narrow.

throat or outlet, 1), in the rear. Over the top of the front end issecured a beam, 0, which projects out over the sides, and is connectedrigidly at opposite ends to slanting beams or braces D, the lower endsof which are bolted to the lower front corners of the sides B. p

E E are the draft-beams, which are pivoted upon bolts d inserted throughthe braces D and sides B, and are provided with bolts 6 at their innerends, by means of which said ends may be adjusted in any one of a seriesof holes, f,

thereby regulating the elevation of the outer ends of the draft-beams. A

Transversely across the narrow rear end or throat of the machine is abeam, F, which is secured rigidly to one ofthe sides B by a bracket, F,and extends outover both sides, as shown. This beam is provided with anadjustable bracket, G, which may be shifted forward or back upon thebeam by means of screws or bolts g fitting into holes in the beam.

The rear end of the machine has a hinged side door, B, and a hinged toppart or door, A, the outer end of the former bearing against the bracketG, by adjusting which upon beam F the width of the throat 1) mayberegulated. The depth or height of the throat may be regulated in likemanner by means of the hinged top A, theouter end of which bears againsta rod or bolt, H, which may be inserted through any one pair of a seriesof holes in the rigid side B and hinged door B opposite.

The sides of the machine are provided with sills I, one on each side,flush with the bottom and bolted to brackets K. These sills are parallelto one another and slide upon the ground on opposite sides of the hedgein operating the machine. The under side of the inclined top A issheathed with iron-along its middle part, as are also the sides and topof the throat b, to prevent too much wear of these parts. In addition tothis, the hinged top door, A, is provided on its under side with asliding shield, L, (see Fig. 3,) pivoted at Z, and having a segmentalslot, m, at its wide outer end, by means of which it may be adjusted andheld firmly in any given position by ajam-screw, n, inserted through theslot. the hinged top A may be regulated so as to conform to theadjustment of the hinged side door, B, and leave the throat I) closed atits sides and top.

' If desired, the sides of the machine may be provided with stub-axles,upon which wheels may be placed in carrying it to and from the placewhere it is to be used, and it may also be provided with a detachabletongue for the better management of the team. The whiflietrees areattached to the outer ends ofthe draftbeams E.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The hedge to be trainedhaving been reached, the width and height of the throat I) are adjustedby means of the hinged doors A and B in the mannerdescribed, accordingtothe width and height which the hedge, when trained, is to have. Thedraft-beams E E are then adjusted by means of the bolts 6 in their rearends. If the hedge to be trained is high and stifi, their In this mannerthe width of forward or outer ends should be elevated, so as to cause adownward draft. If, on the contrary, it is thin andlow, the outer endsof the draft-beams are lowered to cause an upward draft on the machineand reduce its downward pressure. This adjustment having been properlyeffected, the machine is weighted by placing stones or other heat'yweights on the top and securing the same in any suitable manner, and,starting at one end of the hedge, the machine is drawn over the top ofit, compressing and compacting the hedge in its course. As thecompressed hedge escapes at the throat I), it is tied down with wiresuitable distances apart to retain it in its proper shape.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- The described apparatus or machinefor training hedges, composed of the frame A B B, converging toward itsrear end, and provided with the hinged doors A and B, sills I I, bracedcross-beams O and F, adjustable draftbeams E E, adjustable bracket G,and bolt H, constructed and arranged substantially as and for thepurpose herein shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BURTON J. DOWNING.

Witnesses S. M. JARVIS, R. R. OONKLIN.

